Penguins at Capitals
THE STORY: The injury-plagued Pittsburgh Penguins attempt to end their five-game losing streak when they begin a three-game road trip against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Pittsburgh, which is trying to avoid its first six-game skid since dropping 10 straight in January 2006, currently is without superstar captain Sidney Crosby (concussion), fellow center Jordan Staal (knee) and defenseman Kris Letang (concussion). The team's offense has suffered as the Penguins have scored a total of six goals during their slide. Washington is kicking off a four-game stretch at home, where it has won four in a row. The Capitals also are missing some key players in defenseman Mike Green (groin) and leading scorer Nicklas Backstrom (head).
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (21-16-4): Pittsburgh's injury situation could have been even worse, but James Neal managed to return to the lineup in Tuesday's loss to the Ottawa Senators after suffering a foot injury in Saturday's setback against the New Jersey Devils. Neal originally was thought to have a broken foot after blocking a shot vs. New Jersey and was expected to miss several weeks. But the foot was just badly bruised, and Neal played nearly 17 minutes against Ottawa. Craig Adams and Arron Asham also overcame knee injuries and were in the lineup Tuesday.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (21-17-2): Tomas Kundratek could make his NHL debut Wednesday, a day after being recalled from Hershey of the AHL. The 21-year-old defenseman has recorded six goals and two assists in 21 games with Hershey after being acquired from the New York Rangers on Nov. 8. Washington returns home after back-to-back 5-2 losses in San Jose and Los Angeles. Superstar Alex Ovechkin has been kept off the scoresheet in each of the last two games after collecting seven goals and four assists during a seven-game point streak.
OVERTIME:
1. The Capitals have yet to win when Ovechkin fails to record a point, going 0-12-1.
2. Washington is 11-1-2 in its last 14 meetings with the Penguins.
3. Pittsburgh has scored a power-play goal in each of its last five road games.